Apparatus to secure a flexible strip to metal strips



June 29, 1965 w. A. CAIN, JR 3,191,233

APPARATUS TO SECURE A FLEXIBLE STRIP T0 METAL STRIPS Original Filed March 1, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

William F). Cain. J3: I E I BY June 29, 1965 w. A. CAIN, JR

APPARATUS TO SECURE A FLEXIBLE STRIP TO METAL STRIPS Original Filed March 1, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTLOR. W1 ///'am Cain. J

WM 1; WM

lqffarnegs June 29 1965 w. A. CAIN, JR 3,191,283

APPARATUS TO SECURE A FLEXIBLE STRIP TO METAL STRIPS Original Filed March 1, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. O 63 William H. Cam. Jr

June 29, 1965 w. A. CAIN, JR 3,193,283

APPARATUS T0 SECURE A FLEXIBLE STRIP TO METAL STRIPS Original Filed March 1, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 3,191,283 APPARATUS T SECURE A FLEXIBLE STRIP TO METAL STRIPS William A. Cain, Jr., Birmingham, Ala., assignor to Elgen Manufacturing Corp, a corporation of New York Original application Mar. 1, 1961, Ser. No. 92,683. Divided and this application May 22, 1962, 'Ser. No. 203,420

7 Claims. (Cl. 29-2435) This invention relates to the apparatus and process to secure strips of metal :to opposite parallel edges of a moving strip of flexible material and more particularly, to secure the flexible material to a pair of non-overlapping continuously moving metal strips.

This is a division of the present inventors application Serial No. 92,683 filed March 1, 1961.

Heret-ofore, it has been common to secure a fabric strip simultaneously to a pair of overlapping metal strips. This has produced a relatively narrow finished product of two thicknesses of metal which has been difiicult to coil at times and which produces a large diameter coil. Further, it has been difficult, heretofore, to adjust the securing apparatus for different widths of metal strips as the two series of forming or bending r-olls have been used simultaneously on the outer edges of overlapping metal strips.

An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and process to secure a flexible fabric strip to a pair of metal strips without the metal strips being overlapped at any time. This allows the finished product to be easily coiled as only a single thickness of metal is required to be flexed in the coil. By having the finished product coiled in flat non-overlapping relation the diameter of the coil is reduced which is desirable in the storing and handling of the coils.

A further object of my invention is to provide an apparatus and process to secure a fabric strip to a pair of metal strips in which a side edge of a first metal strip is clamped by bending rolls to an edge of a fabric strip supportedthereon, then the metal strip and fabric secured thereto are separated and a second metal strip is secured to the unattached free edge of the fabric strip by bending rolls.

A'further object is to provide adjustable guides for the metal strips which are positioned outwardly from the series of bending rolls whereby the guides may be easily adjusted inwardly and outwardly of the adjacent series of bending rolls to accommodate the apparatus for different widths of fabric and of metal strips. The bending rolls are not zaifec-ted in any manner by the adjustment of the guides.

Apparatus embodying features of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the apparatus embodying the process to secure a flexible strip to a pair of metal strips;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the means to coil the secured strips after they leave the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along the line 44 of FIG. 2'and showing the drive means for the bending rolls;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view showing the first set of bending rolls with the first and second metal strips disposed therebetween;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view showing the metal strips in which the side edges of the metal strips are bent to 90 relative to the horizontal in position to receive the fabric strip thereat; and,

United States Patent 0 FIGS. 7-11 are fragmentary views showing successive pairs of bending rolls securing parallel side edges of the fabric strip to a pair of metal strips.

Referring now to the drawings-for a better understanding of. my invention, and more particularly to FIG. 1, I show apparatus embodying the process of my invention to secure parallel side edges of a flexible strip to a pair of metal strips with the metal strips being in non-overlapping relation and being coiled so that only a single thickness of metal is bent. My apparatus is indicated generally by the numeral 10 and comprises a reel 11 n which a roll of fabric 12 is mounted. Fabric 12 may be of any flexible sheet material, such as woven canvas. First and second fiat metal strips 13 and 14, respectively, are fed continuously to apparatus 10 from suitable supply coil-s (not shown). Strips 13 and 14 are pulled or drawn into apparatus 10 by two sets of feed rolls 16 and 17. After metal strips 13 and 14 are fed to apparatus 10, upper rolls 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24 25 and 26, and corresponding lower rolls 16 18 19 22 23 24 and 26 bend successively the side edges of strips 13 and 14 into secured relation with fabric 12.

Fabric 12 is fed in supported relation through vertical guides 15 onto metal strips 13 and 14 between sets of rolls 18 and 19 (see FIG. 1). After the side edges of metal strips 13 and 14 have been moved downwardly onto the edges of fabric strip 12 supported thereon, crimping rolls 27 having projections 28 crimp the side edges of the metal strips to hold fabric 12 tightly thereon.

The drive for rotating the several sets of rolls is shown in FIG. 4 and comprises a motor 31 having a drive shaft 32 thereon connected to a gear reducer 30. Drive sprocket 33 drives shaft 34 through sprocket 36 secured thereto and sprocket chain 37. Spur gear 38 mounted on shaft 34 drives gear 39 on upper shaft 41. Gear box 35 houses gears 38 and 39 and the remaining rolls are driven by power transmitting gears 40 and 40 from gear 39 (see FIG. 2). Feed rolls 42 and 43 draw metal strip 13 through the apparatus after it has been looped.

Side guides 44 and 4-5 are positioned outwardly of the rolls and are adjustably mounted by bolts 46 slidably mounted in slots 47. Second metal strip 14 is fed out wardly of the feeding and bending rolls beneath guide 49 which is .adjustably mounted for movement within slots 51.

Fabric 12 is fed downwardly through guides 15 onto first metal strip 13 and the side edge of strip 13 is bent downwardly and crimped thereon by the several bending rolls. As shown in FIG. 1, strip 13 and fabric 12 supported thereon is looped in a clockwise direction while supported by rollers 52, 53 and 54. Rollers 55 and 60 are mounted vertically over rollers 53 and 54 and strip 13 and fabric 12 are fed therebetween in a generally horizontal direction. Initially when the operation is commenced, strip 13 is unfolded from fabric 12 and turned where it is threaded or fed between rollers 54 and 60. Thereafter the metal strip 13 and fabric strip 12 are separated between rolls 53 and 54 automatically without any manual control required. Thereafter, strip 13 and fabric 12 are fed downwardly with fabric 12 being positioned on and supported by second metal strip 14. Guides 58 are adjustably mounted to hold strips 13 and 14 accurately positioned. The bending rolls bend the marginal side edge of strip 14 onto the unsecured edge of fabric 12 and crimping rolls 27 crimp the edge of metal strip 14 tightly onto fabric 12. This also allows greater flexibility of the folded edge of metal strips 13 and 14 allowing the product to be easily withdrawn from the coil and flattened.

As the finished product leaves apparatus 10, strips 13 and 14 are in non-overlapping position and are fed to a coiler indicated generally by the numeral 61 in FIG. 3. Coiler 61 is driven by motor 62 connected to a reduction gear unit 63 and a variable speed reducing device 64. Belt lwithdrawn from the coil and flattened. o Referring now to FIGS. -11 in vvhichthe feeding and bending rolls are shown in detail, I show in FIG. 5

upper bending rolls 16 and lower rolls 16*. Feed rolls 13and 14 to a greater'angle than rolls 16iand 16 Only rolls 16 are described and shown in detail. Rolls 16 and 16?- act both as feeding, and forming or .bending rolls.

Metal strip 13 and inetal'stript14 are i-n flat relation when fed to rolls 16. Rolls 16 and 16 -bend-the marginal edges .of strips 13 and 14 to an angletof 30 to they horizonal.

Rolls 17 and.17 bend theedges to an angle of 60 to the horizontal. Upper rolls 18 and lower rolls 18 bend the side edges of strips 13 and 14 to a 90? relation with a the horizontal.

tioned thereon. Rolls 22 and '22 in FIG. 8. clamp the side edges of strips 13 and 14 downwardly onto fabric 12.

Rolls 23 and 23 in FIG. 9 start the second overlapping of the inner marginal sideedges of strips 13 and 14. Rolls 24 and'24 inFIG. bend the marginal side edges to a 90 relationship to the horizontal and rolls 25 to 135 relationsip. Rolls 26 and 26ein FlG. 11 complete the bending operation. Thereafter, crimping rolls -27 crimp the edges firmly to secure them on fabric 12 and to'allow the coiled material totbe easily withdrawnand flattened. V

In operation, a firstmetal strip 13 is fed outwardly of one set of rolls 16 and the inner side edge of strip 13 is bent to an angle of 90 to the horizontal by rolls 16 and 18. Nexhfabric 12 is fed' downwardly onto the upper of time if it is desired to operate on diflerent widths of material.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it

' will be obvious to those skilled in the, art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing fromthe spirit thereof, and I v desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed 17 are similar to feed rolls16 but bend the edges of strips surface of metal strip 13 adjacent a side edge thereof with the edge of fabric 12 spaced from. the edge of strip 13 and the bending rolls' bend the side edge of strip. 13 to secure firmly fabric 12' thereto. j Thereafter, fabric '12' product is coiled ina single thickness.

From the foregoing, it ,will be understood that I have" provided an apparatus and process to secure par allel edges :of a fabric strip to a pair, of continuously moving metal strips'which are not overlapped at any time. This allows the finished product to be coiled easily since only a single thickness of metal is required to'be bent in the coil. As the metal strips are positioned outwardly of the. series of bendnig rolls, it is very easy to adjust'the guideslfor different Widths of strips since the guides are alsd'positioned outwardly of the bending rolls. a The guides may be easily adjusted inwardly and outwardly of the bending rolls. r V My apparatus may be'operated at a production speed of over 60 feet,pe r minute. The apparatus may be positionedin a minimum of floorspace and the working parts of the mechanism are easily accessible for adjustments.

InIP w1arJ lsl ss m yb adju e in a m nimum '14 with the clamped fabric are fed tocoiler 61 where the claims.

pair of opposite edgeportions each securely engaged to a respective marginal portion of one of a pair of relatively 'rigid metal strips, said apparatus comprising:

means for moving afirst of said pair of metal strips along a path in a lengthwise direction; first positioning means .along'said pathfor positioning said flexible strip relative to said first metal strip, when the latter is moving along a first portion of its path, in a first disposition with one edge portion of the flexible strip lying atop the first metal strip and located adjacent one marginal portion of the first rnetalstrip and the remaining portion of the first metal strip extending widthwise underneath the flexible strip; I means for moving said flexible strip with said firstmetal strip; means for deforming said onefmarginal portion of the first metal strip onto the adjacent edge portion of the flexible strip and for securely engaging said portions of the two strips as they move along said first portion of said path; means foridirecting said engaged strips from said first pathportion through a looping second path portion; means looated'in' said second path portion for. eflfecting a change in'the relative disposition of thefirst .rnetal strip and the flexible strip,. to a second disposition in which the unen'gaged portions of the first metal along said path strip and the flexible strip extendwidthwise in .respective non-overlapping directions fromthe engaged portions thereof; V V a i .means for directing said two engaged strips-along a third path portion, parallel to said first'path portion, while/maintaining the two strips in said second disposition; j f l means for moving a second'of said pair of man strips in a lengthwise direction; j I V means for guiding said second metal strip along a'path parallel to saidthirdpath portion of the first metal strip and fiexiblestripj second positioning means at the third path portion for positioning saidrflexible strip irelative to the second metal strip with the unengaged other edge portion ot the flexiblestrip' lying'atop the second metal strip and located adjacent'one marginal portion of the second metal strip and the remaining portion of the second metalstrip extending widthwise underneath the flexible strip; 7 r V and means for deforming said one marginal portion of the second metal strip onto the? adjacent edge portion of the flexible strip-and securely-engaging said portions of the two strips as they move ,along their respectivepaths. Y

2. Apparatus asrecite d in. claim :1 wherein;

said means for directing the two 'engagedstrips along 3. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein:

said first positioning means is located along said first path portion;

and said second positioning means is located substantially alongside said first positioning means;

said second positioning means including means for placing an advanced part of said flexible strip on the second metal strip simultaneous to placement, by the first positioning means, of a trailing part of the flexible strip on the first metal strip.

4. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein:

said deforming means for the first metal strip includes a series of roll-forming rolls;

said apparatus includes a plurality of shafts each mounting a respective one of said rolls;

and said deforming means for the second metal strip includes a series of roll-forming rolls eachmounted on a respective one of said shafts.

5. Apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein:

said first recited series of forming rolls includes means, at a location along the path of the first metal strip preceding said first positioning means, for partially deforming said one marginal portion of the first metal strip;

and said second recited series of forming rolls includes means for partially deforming said one marginal portion of the second metal strip simultaneous to partial deformation of the one marginal portion on the first metal strip.

6. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 and comprising:

first guide means along said first path portion for engaging and guiding the undeformed marginal portion of the first metal strip;

means adjustably mounting said first guide means for adjustable movement in a widthwise direction relative to said first metal strip;

said means for directing the engaged strips along the third path portion including guide means along said third path portion for engaging and guiding the deformed marginal portion of the first metal strip;

and means adjustably mounting said second recited guide means for adjustable movement in a widthwise direction relative to the first metal strip.

7. Apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein:

said guiding means for the second metal strip includes means for engaging and guiding the other marginal portion of the second metal strip;

said apparatus includes means adjustably mounting the last recited guiding means for adjustable movement in a widthwise direction relative to the second metal strip.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,825,384 3/58 Goldsmith 153-1 3,065,121 11/62 Andrews 156201 CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING AN ELONGATED STRIP-LIKE PRODUCT COMPOSED OF A RELATIVELY FLEXIBLE STRIP HAVING A PAIR OF OPPOSITE EDGE PORTIONS EACH SECURELY ENGAGED TO A RESPECTIVE MARGINAL PORTION OF ONE OF A PAIR OF RELATIVELY RIGID METAL STRIPS, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING: MEANS FOR MOVING A FIRST OF SAID PAIR OF METAL STRIPS ALONG A PATH IN A LENGTHWISE DIRECTION; FIRST POSITIONING MEANS ALONG SAID PATH FOR POSITIONING SAID FLEXIBLE STRIP RELATIVE TO SAID FIRST PORTION OF ITS WHEN THE LATTER IS MOVING ALONG A FIRST PORTION OF ITS PATH, IN A FIRST DISPOSITION WITH ONE EDGE PORTION OF THE FLEXIBLE STRIP LYING ATOP THE FIRST METAL STRIP AND LOCATED ADJACENT ONE MARGINAL PORTION OF THE FIRST METAL STRIP AND THE REMAINING PORTION OF THE FIRST MEANS STRIP EXTENDING WIDTHWISE UNDERNEATH THE FLEXIBLE STRIP; MEANS FOR MOVING SAID FLEXIBLE STRIP ALONG SAID PATH WITH SAID FIRST METAL STRIP; MEANS FOR DEFORMING SAID ONE MARGINAL PORTION OF THE FIRST METAL STRIP ONTO THE ADJACENT EDGE PORTION OF THE FLEXIBLE STRIP AND FOR SECURELY ENGAGING SAID PORTIONS OF THE TWO STRIPS AS THEY MOVE ALONG SAID FIRST PORTION OF SAID PATH; MEANS FOR DIRECTING SAID ENGAGED STRIPS FROM SAID FIRST PATH PORTION THROUGH A LOOPING SECOND PATH PORTION; MEANS LOCATED IN SAID SECOND PATH PORTION FOR EFFECTING A CHANGE IN THE RELATIVE DISPOSITION OF THE FIRST METAL STRIP AND THE FLEXIBLE STRIP, TO A SECOND DISPOSITION IN WHICH THE UNENGAGED PORTIONS OF THE FIRST METAL STRIP AND THE FLEXIBLE STRIP, TO A SECOND DISPOSITION TIVE NON-OVERLAPPING DIRECTIONS FROM THE ENGAGED PORTIONS THEREOF; MEANS FOR DIRECTING SAID TWO ENGAGED STRIPS ALONG A THIRD PATH PORTION, PARALLEL TO SAID FIRST PATH PORTION, WHILE MAINTAINING THE TWO STRIPS IN SAID SECOND DISPOSITION; MEANS FOR MOVING A SECOND OF SAID PAIR OF METAL STRIPS IN A LENGTHWISE DIRECTION; MEANS FOR GUIDING SAID SECOND METAL STRIP ALONG A PATH PARALLEL TO SAID THIRD PATH PORTION OF THE FIRST METAL STRIP AND FLEXIBLE STRIP; SECOND POSITIONING MEANS AT THE THIRD PATH PORTION FOR POSITIONING SAID FLEXIBLE STRIP RELATIVE TO THE SECOND METAL STRIP WITH THE UNENGAGED OTHER EDGE PORTION OF THE FLEXIBLE STRIP LYING ATOP THE SECOND METAL STRIP AND LOCATED ADJACENT ONE MARGINAL PORTION OF THE SECOND METAL STRIP AND THE REMAINING PORTION OF THE SECOND METAL STRIP EXTENDING WIDTHWISE UNDERNEATH THE FLEXIBLE STRIP; AND MEANS FOR DEFORMING SAID ONE MARGINAL PORTION OF THE SECOND METAL STRIP ONTO THE ADJACENT EDGE PORTION OF THE FLEXIBLE STRIP AND SECURELY ENGAGING SAID PORTIONS OF THE TWO STRIPS AS THEY MOVE ALONG THEIR RESPECTIVE PATHS. 